EAU CLAIRE, Wis. – A milestone moment and all-around effort powered the UW-River Falls women's basketball to a convincing 71-52 road victory over the Blugolds Wednesday night at the Sonnentag Event Center.

The Falcons were led by senior Zoey Buchan, who scored 16 points, surpassing the 1,000-career point mark, becoming the latest Falcon to reach the milestone. Buchan knocked down 4-of-7 from beyond the arc and added five rebounds in the win.

After playing to a 17-17 tie in the opening quarter, River Falls seized control in the second period, holding Eau Claire to just four points while building a 34-21 halftime lead. The Falcons' defense forced 15 turnovers throughout the night, fueling 21 transition points. 

River Falls continued to apply pressure after the break, shooting 61.5 percent from the floor in the third quarter to stretch the lead to 55-37 entering the final frame. The Falcons finished the night shooting 48.1 percent from three-point range and with 30 bench points, showcased depth throughout the lineup.

Emily Anderson paced the Falcons with a game-high 17 points, and Savannah Leopold added 13 points and six assists off the bench. Olivia Boily chipped in nine points and six rebounds while Braelyn Beiler provided a spark with eight points, knocking down two threes. 

Defensively, the Falcons limited Eau Claire to just 30.8 percent shooting and just 2-of-15 from long range for the night.

With the victory, River Falls improves to 9-6 overall and 2-2 in WIAC play, while Eau Claire drops to 11-4 overall and 1-3 in conference action.

The Falcons will look to carry mid-week momentum into this weekend as they take on the nationally ranked UW-Oshkosh Titans this Saturday at Don Page Arena, tip-off scheduled for 3 p.m.